Mend the Roof Before It Rains: How Good Times Can Prepare Us For the Hard Times
“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today…”—Deut 8:11
Last week, we talked about thanking God when times are hard.
But have you taken much thought to what to do when times are good?
When life is full, when you are satisfied with your circumstances, when you know the blessing of God around you?
Sometimes, I think those can actually be the more dangerous times. God knows that too—which is why Moses warns the people of Israel as they stand on the brink of the Promised Land.
Before them lies comfort: good food (no more manna!), stable homes (no more tents!), wealth, and safety. All gracious gifts from the hand of God.
Moses narrows his focus right on the culprit: our hearts (Deut. 8:14). In those times, the sin that has yet to be purified from us also deceives us. It blinds us to God’s hand that provides and protects.
When times were difficult—when we are wandering in the desert—God is testing us (Deut. 8:2). In those moments, our hearts cry out for help. We know we are dependent and needy.
But when we are doing well, the pain is not so acute, life is running smoothly, how quickly we forget the truth of who we are: We are still dependent and needy.
Thinking Biblically
While we are suffering through the hard times, we want to take advantage of these moments to let God test and refine our hearts, to separate out the gold from the dross (1 Peter 1:7). Whether it be discipline for sin or the deepening of our faith, we want to allow God to build our love for and trust in Him.
But when things are good, we need to exercise just as much care.
Eventually, the crisis passes. Sometimes it may not go away completely. You may walk permanently with a limp (literally or figuratively). We found that to be true, even with the challenges of our adoption.
The kids no longer need you 24/7. Work pressures pass. The move is made and you have settled into your new home and neighborhood. Cancer treatments are over and you are in remission.
My natural tendency is to relax my hold on God when the crisis is over. However, that is not a good idea.
For the truth is this: even if the external issues subside, we still battle with the internal issues. Though we are redeemed by Christ, we still live on this side of heaven. Our flesh will still tempt us to sin, and unfortunately, we are too willing to comply. Our sanctification is not yet complete.
In these seasons of blessing and plenty, we have a different kind of growing to do. These are the days where we shift our focus from the here and now, from survival mode, to the long view, the big picture.
We mend the roof before it rains. We save for the next rainy day. We focus on training for the next marathon. We practice living for eternity.
Making the Most of Our Time
So what does that look like? Here are a few things to focus on so that the next challenging season won’t knock you over as badly.
Build up a storehouse of truth.
When we do this, we are setting up a framework to look through. This helps us build our house on the rock, a solid foundation. Here are some suggestions:
Take time to understand the Story of Scripture in its breadth. How can this Story change your life?
Invest in a deep dive study of a book or passage. Devotionals are great, but there’s nothing like studying God’s Word for yourself (post on psalms).
Meditate and memorize God’s Word so it is in your heart and mind.
Learn to abide in the vine and pray without ceasing.
Besides shoring up your mental storehouse, take time to spend time with the Lord in relationship. A solid friendship with God helps you to trust Him when the storm rises.
Carve out space to rest with Him in 5/11
Invite him to check your heart 8/31
Get to know His character and let those truths shape how you live. (I loved this conference and highly recommend it!)
Build friendships with others.
If we do not invest in developing friendships when times are good, it is hard to have them when you really need the help. I found that out the hard way.
Prayerfully consider deepening relationships with people you already know and trust. Invite them to help keep you accountable or challenge you.
Seek to serve others in need. Out of the blessings God has given you, look around, check in with people you haven’t heard from in a long time. Sometimes God ends up sending you to be the blessing someone else needs.
Intentionally invest in discipleship or mentoring relationships with someone you respect or people that have gone through a stage you will be going through soon.
Prepare in advance for known stressors.
While we cannot foresee all that is ahead, there may be some stages of life where you can anticipate the struggles.
Observe your year. Are there any harder seasons that come in cycles, like tax season or holiday season? Are there ways you can work ahead?
Consider your stage in life. What are some crises that might arise in the foreseeable future as you transition into a new role or take on a new position?
Read wise counsel in advance for the teen years or thinking ahead for retirement. Doing this helps me to discern my options and choose a path when I am able to think calmly without stress.
Establish rhythms and routines that ground you on the days where life is unpredictable.
Forming a solid spiritual rhythm that guides your life and provides a trellis that can help stabilize you. When life goes haywire, the routines go out the door.
But if you have some non-negotiables in place, when you have a pattern for your days, they can provide you a framework to start with as you navigate and figure out a new normal.
Conclusion
When my kids were young, before I went grocery shopping or before they went to a friend’s house, I would review with them what might be coming up.
We’d talk about the potential temptations or situations that might arise. We’d evaluate the possible options they can take. We’d discuss which would be the best choices and why others would not be wise.
Though we could not foresee what was going to happen, having that discussion provided us the time and opportunity to think more clearly. Once you’re in the situation, there’s no saying what you’ll do.
But this conversation would then become the reference point when they want the candy bar or when the conflict arises. It would become the guide we needed when temptation strikes or tempers flare.
Though we cannot predict the next crisis, we can prepare for it—not necessarily for that particular crisis, but so that we can better weather it.
So when life is good—thank God for that too. And then ask how He might want you to make the most of this time of blessing.
